Pelargonium plant named ‘Fisbildeep’

ABSTRACT

A new  Pelargonium  plant named ‘Fisbildeep,’ particularly distinguished by the double-type, medium sized, dark-red flowers, floriferous with relatively small inflorescences, medium green foliage, leaves with rounded lobes and weak zonation, medium to strong vigor, and mounding to semi-trailing, tight and compact plant habit.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Pelargoniumpeltatum (L.) L 'Hérit ex Ait.

Varietal denomination: ‘Fisbildeep’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new ivy Geranium plant, botanicallyknown as Pelargonium peltatum and hereinafter referred to by the varietyname ‘Fisbildeep.’

‘Fisbildeep’ is a product of a planned breeding program. The newcultivar has dark-red, double flowers, medium green foliage with weakzonation, and semi-trailing, relatively tight and compact plant habit.

‘Fisbildeep’ originated from a hybridization made in the late summer of2003 in a controlled breeding program in Hillscheid, Germany. The femaleparent was the commercial variety ‘Ruby Dream,’ U.S. Plant Pat. No.17,813, ‘Fisruby.’ ‘Fisruby’ has dark-red, double flowers, deep greenfoliage with distinct zonation, and moderately vigorous growth.

The male parent of ‘Fisbildeep’ was the commercial variety ‘ColorcadeCoral Pink,’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,563, ‘Balcolcork.’ ‘Balcolcork’ hassalmon-pink to light carmine-red, double flowers, zoned foliage, andabout medium sized mounding and trailing plant habit.

‘Fisbildeep’ was selected as one flowering plant within the progeny ofthe stated cross in the spring of 2004 in a controlled environment inGaldar, Gran Canaria, Spain.

The first act of asexual reproduction of ‘Fisbildeep’ was accomplishedwhen vegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection in thefall of 2004 in a controlled environment in Galdar, Gran Canaria, Spain.

Horticultural examination of plants grown from cuttings of the plantinitiated in March 2005 in Hillscheid, Germany, and continuingthereafter, has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics asherein disclosed for ‘Fisbildeep’ are firmly fixed and are retainedthrough successive generations of asexual reproduction.

‘Fisbildeep’ has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations inenvironment such as temperature, light intensity and day length.

Plant Breeder's Rights for this cultivar was applied for in Canada onMar. 30, 2007 and in Germany on Feb. 21, 2007. ‘Fisbildeep’ has not beenmade publicly available more than one year prior to the filing of thisapplication.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying photographic drawing shows typical flower and foliagecharacteristics of ‘Fisbildeep’ with colors being as true as possiblewith an illustration of this type. The photographic drawing shows aflowering potted plant of the new variety.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The measurements were taken in Hillscheid, Germany, on May 11, 2007 onplants that were growing in a greenhouse. Culture of these plantsstarted in mid February 2007, when rooted cuttings were planted into 12cm pots, were pinched once in late February, and grown out at a minimumday/night temperature of (only) 14° C. until mid April, and at highertemperatures thereafter.

Color Chart used: Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.) 2001

BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The following observations, measurements, and comparisons describeplants grown indoors and outside in Hillscheid, Germany, and inChatellerault, France. The following traits have been repeatedlyobserved and are determined to be basic characteristics of the newvariety. The combination of these characteristics distinguishes thisPelargonium (common name: ivy Geranium) as a new and distinct variety.

-   -   1. Medium sized, dark-red colored flowers    -   2. Double-type with many petals, initially rose-bud-like    -   3. Small, semi-spherically shaped inflorescences, relatively low        above the foliage    -   4. Medium green foliage, leaves with rounded lobes and with weak        zone    -   5. Medium to strong vigor, and mounding to semi-trailing, tight        and compact plant habit.    -   6. Mid season begin of flowering, and floriferous throughout the        summer

TABLE 1 DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE NEW VARIETY ‘FISBILDEEP’ AND SIMILARVARIETIES: ‘Freestyle Ruby ‘Fisruby’ Red’ (‘Free Rured,’ (U.S. PlantPat. U.S. Plant Pat. ‘Fisbildeep’ No. 17,813) No. 18,042) Flower colorClosest to RHS RHS 46A RHS 46A-46B, 46A overall view is closer to 46BNumber of petals 25-30 15-18 20-30 Umbel diameter 7.7 cm 11.9 cm 8.0 cmPlant habit Compact, tight, Less tight, less Compact, tight, mediumsized compact, with medium sized or over longer, trailing branches

-   Plant:    -   -   Form, growth and habit.—Initially semi-upright.        -   Plant height.—15.3 cm.        -   Plant height (inflorescence included).—21 cm.        -   Plant diameter.—25 cm.        -   Plant size at the end of the summer (about 6 months old,            plant spread from base of the main stem to the shoot            tips).—55–65 cm.-   Stem:    -   -   Number of branches.—6.8.        -   Color of stem.—Green, RHS 137D, no anthocyanin.        -   Length of stem.—About 15–20 cm.        -   Diameter.—4–5 mm.        -   Length of internodes.—3–5 cm.        -   Texture.—Covered with fine short hair.-   Foliage:    -   -   Immature, leaf color, upper surface.—RHS 143A        -   Lower surface.—RHS 143B.        -   Mature, leaf color, upper surface.—Medium green, RHS 137C to            137D Lower surface: RHS 137D.        -   Length.—4.5 cm.        -   Width 7.5 cm.        -   Shape.—Ivy shaped with distinct, rounded lobes.        -   Base shape.—Cordate.        -   Apex shape.—Rounded lobes.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture.—Appears smooth, but upper side covered with sparse,            fine, short hair, lower side hirtellous (short, upright            hair).        -   Color of zone.—Weak.        -   Color of veins, upper surface.—Indistinct, approximately RHS            144A.        -   Color of veins, lower surface.—Light green, RHS.        -   Petiole color.—RHS 137D.        -   Petiole length.—Most often between 3 and 4.5 cm.        -   Diameter of petiole.—2 mm.        -   Texture.—Very short, fine hair.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Begin of flowering (50% of plants with open flowers).—May 2            (12 weeks old).        -   Duration of flowering.—Continuous flowering throughout the            Summer.        -   Type and shape of inflorescence.—Umbel, nearly            semi-spherical, tight, relatively small.        -   Number of inflorescences per plant.—2–3 at the stated time,            approx. 25 in late summer.        -   Number of flowers and buds per inflorescence.—Most often            15–20.        -   Umbel diameter.—7.7 cm.        -   Umbel depth.—5.2 cm.        -   Color of peduncle.—Green, RHS 143A to 143B.        -   Length of peduncle.—12.1 cm.        -   Peduncle diameter.—3 mm.        -   Texture.—Covered with very short hair.        -   Color of pedicel.—Green, RHS 143B, no anthocyanin.        -   Length of pedicel.—1.9 cm.        -   Diameter of pedicel.—1.5 mm.        -   Texture.—Densely covered with short hair.-   Corolla:    -   -   Form.—Double-type, round, with relatively many petals,            initially rose-shaped.        -   Diameter of flower.—4.2 cm.        -   Depth of flower.—1.5–2.0 cm.        -   Number of petals.—Approximately 25 to 30.        -   Color upper petals, upper surface.—RHS 46A or intermediate            between RHS 46A and 46B, overlain with a blackish shimmer,            near RHS 187A, At the base very dark veins, RHS 187A.        -   Color upper petals, lower surface.—Deep red, between RHS 46B            and 53B.        -   Length of upper petals.—23–25 mm.        -   Width of upper petals.—15–18 mm.        -   Color lower petals, upper surface.—Between RHS 46A and 46B,            and with a blackish shimmer, RHS 187A.        -   Color lower petals, lower surface.—Deep red, between RHS 46B            and 53B.        -   Length of lower petals.—23–25 mm.        -   Width of lower petals.—16–19 mm.        -   Petal shape.—Obovate.        -   Apex shape.—Rounded.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Base.—Acute.        -   Petal texture.—Smooth.        -   Number of petaloids.—0 to 2, narrower and shorter than            petals.        -   Color of petaloids.—Similar as petals, or of somewhat less            intense hue.-   Bud (just before opening):    -   -   Color.—Dark red, RHS 46A or 53A.        -   Length.—19–21 mm.        -   Width.—12–16 mm.        -   Shape.—Initially nearly round, elliptical at opening.-   Calyx:    -   -   Number of sepals.—Most often 6 or 7.        -   Color of sepals.—Abaxial green, RHS 143C, adaxial RHS 144C,            no anthocyanin.        -   Length of sepals.—9–10 mm.        -   Width of sepals.—5 mm for the largest sepal, 2–3 mm for the            other sepals.        -   Sepal shape.—Lanceolate.        -   Apex shape.—Acute to acuminate.        -   Margins.—Entire.        -   Texture.—Covered with relatively long, short hair.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Pistil.—One.        -   Length.—10 mm.        -   Style color.—Whitish to pale pink, RHS 69C.        -   Style length.—3–4 mm.        -   Stigma color.—Dark purple, RHS 187B.        -   Number of anthers.—None or up to 3.        -   Length of anthers.—2 mm.        -   Anther color.—Purple, N79C.        -   Length filaments.—8 mm.        -   Color of filaments.—White to pale pink, RHS 68B, at upper            end.        -   Pollen amount.—Relatively little per flower.        -   Color of pollen.—Yellow-orange, RHS 25A.        -   Fertility/seed set.—No seed set observed.-   Disease/pest resistance: Disease resistance or susceptibility other    than typical for the species has not been observed on this hybrid.

1. A new and distinct variety of Pelargonium plant named ‘Fisbildeep,’substantially as illustrated and described herein.